Summary
The Chery Omoda 5 is a compact crossover SUV unveiled on September 10, 2025, representing a significant refresh of Chery’s popular Omoda 5 model. Marketed under the premium Omoda marque in many export regions, the vehicle features updated exterior styling, enhanced interior luxury, and advanced technological integrations aimed at delivering a modern and personalized driving experience. Notable design changes include a sleeker front fascia with body-colored grille elements, new alloy wheels, and refined color accents, while the interior boasts dual 10.25-inch digital displays, customizable ambient lighting, and premium materials crafted under the direction of Chery’s Lead Designer Richard Koo.
Powertrain options center on a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine paired with a newly introduced six-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT), replacing the earlier continuously variable transmission (CVT) to improve driving dynamics and responsiveness. Additionally, a more powerful 1.6-litre turbocharged variant with optional all-wheel drive and a multi-link rear suspension enhances performance and handling for select markets. Complementing the petrol lineup, Chery has also launched an all-electric version, the Omoda E5, equipped with a 150 kW motor and a 61 kWh battery, aimed at competing in the growing global electric SUV market.
The Omoda 5’s comprehensive safety suite includes Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), six airbags, and a 540-degree camera system, underscoring the brand’s commitment to occupant protection and driving confidence. Since its debut, the model has been well received internationally, particularly among younger consumers, and has contributed to Chery’s expanding global presence with sales surpassing 80,000 units and projections to exceed 200,000 by the end of 2025. Its competitive pricing and premium features have positioned the Omoda 5 as a strong contender against rivals such as the BYD Atto 3, MG ZS EV, and Hyundai Kona Electric.
Despite its strengths, the Omoda 5 has faced criticism related to fuel efficiency, placing it among competitors with less optimal consumption ratings in its segment. The vehicle’s market strategy, including distinct branding and distribution through entities like Anhui Omoda Jaecoo Automobile Co., Ltd., reflects Chery’s efforts to target diverse markets with tailored offerings while balancing consumer appeal with professional evaluations. This approach has helped the Omoda 5 maintain a solid reputation as a technologically advanced and stylish compact SUV in an increasingly crowded global automotive landscape.
Overview
The Chery Omoda 5, unveiled on September 10, represents a refreshed iteration of the popular Omoda 5 model, integrating advanced design and technology elements to enhance the driving experience. This vehicle offers a variety of colour options, enabling buyers to personalise their ride to suit their style preferences. The interior is crafted to embody luxury and futuristic comfort, featuring premium materials and a sophisticated design that elevates the standard of automotive elegance.
For export markets, the Omoda 5 sports a distinct interior design conceived by Chery’s Lead Designer Richard Koo, with notable differences in the dashboard, central console, and door trims compared to domestic models. The vehicle’s versatility is underscored by its practical luggage capacity, which measures 378 litres with the rear seats upright and expands to 1,075 litres when folded down.
In March 2025, the Omoda 5 received a facelift tailored to overseas markets, featuring an updated front fascia with body-coloured elements replacing chrome on the grille, a redesigned bumper, new alloy wheel designs, and the removal of red highlight trims. Additionally, the petrol variant now displays a black bar with the Omoda badge on the front fascia.
The brand’s distribution strategy includes a separate sales company, Anhui Omoda Jaecoo Automobile Co., Ltd., established in China to handle export operations, reflecting Chery’s broader approach to expanding its global footprint through distinct branding and market positioning. This strategic move aligns with Chery’s history of cooperative agreements and joint ventures with global automotive and component firms, reinforcing its commitment to innovation and quality.
Design and Styling
The Chery Omoda 5’s design is rooted in the Art in Motion philosophy, which emphasizes avant-garde art by experimenting with color, form, and concept to merge functional design with aesthetic beauty. This approach aims to create a vehicle that is not only visually striking from the outside but also engaging to experience from behind the wheel. The exterior refresh introduces a sleeker, more modern look, characterized by a significantly reprofiled front bumper and a revised grille featuring body-colored squares instead of the previous chrome-studded design. The Omoda 5 also now sports new 18-inch wheels and a shift from red accent highlights to black, as seen in the Indonesian model, giving the vehicle a more refined and cohesive appearance.
The rear design features a slanted fastback-style roofline complemented by a double-layered spoiler, contributing to the car’s dynamic silhouette. The vehicle’s proportions were crafted according to the “golden ratio of Pythagoras,” with a height-to-width ratio of 0.8677, emphasizing its balanced and elegant stance. Additional exterior details include dynamic LED daytime running lights shaped like arrows that connect via a black bar displaying the Omoda badge, and functional touches such as puddle lights projecting the “Omoda” name onto the ground and dynamic rear indicators that enhance both style and safety.
Inside, the Omoda 5 elevates luxury and futuristic comfort with a premium, modern interior design. The cabin is equipped with two integrated 10.25-inch high-definition digital screens controlling driving, climate, and entertainment functions. The dashboard, central console, and door trims in export models reflect the vision of Chery’s Lead Designer Richard Koo, blending contemporary elegance with user-friendly ergonomics. Ambient lighting is customizable with a 64 multi-color setup that adapts the interior mood to the driver’s preferences, adding a personalized and futuristic atmosphere.
The center console features a stylish gear knob integrated with a drive mode selector, allowing seamless switching between driving modes to optimize the driving experience. This design element perfectly exemplifies the vehicle’s fusion of functionality and cutting-edge aesthetics. Rear passenger comfort is addressed through adequate headroom, minimal central seat hump, air vents, USB connectivity, and map pockets, while practical conveniences such as a power tailgate and walk-away locking function enhance everyday usability.
Specifications
The Chery Omoda 5 is powered primarily by a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, delivering between 147 and 156 horsepower (108–115 kW) and 230 Nm of torque, depending on the market. This engine features multi-point injection technology, an aluminum alloy cylinder head, and a cast iron cylinder block, meeting the latest national six emission standards. The engine’s maximum power is reached at 5500 rpm, with maximum torque available from 1750 to 4500 rpm.
The transmission system has seen notable updates in the revamped Omoda 5. Earlier models used a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with nine virtual ratios; however, the new version replaces this with a six-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) that drives the front wheels, enhancing both performance and driving dynamics. The DCT features active upshift timing around 2000 rpm and allows the vehicle to reach its highest gear by 70 km/h. Throttle response is positive, with a notable power surge starting near 2500 rpm, resulting in smoother power delivery compared to previous models.
In addition to the 1.5-litre engine, Chery plans to introduce a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine variant producing 145 kW and 290 Nm of torque. This larger engine will be paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and is available with an optional all-wheel-drive system. The AWD setup utilizes a multi-link rear suspension instead of the torsion beam found on front-wheel-drive models, though this reduces ground clearance from 190 mm to 180 mm. The 1.6-litre turbocharged variant accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in approximately 9.2 to 9.9 seconds.
The suspension system for the new Omoda 5 has been upgraded from a torsion beam to a multi-link rear suspension, providing improved ride comfort and handling characteristics. This suspension revision applies to both the 1.5-litre and the upcoming 1.6-litre turbocharged models, with the latter optionally featuring all-wheel drive.
The interior of the Omoda 5 is equipped with two integrated 10.25-inch high-definition digital displays for driving, climate control, and entertainment functions. Features such as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, ventilated seats, dual-zone automatic air conditioning, an eight-speaker Sony audio system, and wireless charging are included, ensuring a modern and connected driving experience.
A battery electric version of the Omoda 5, marketed as the Omoda E5 or Chery E5 depending on the region, was introduced in April 2023. It features a 150 kW (204 hp) electric motor powered by a 61 kWh battery pack, with a facelifted front-end design distinct from the petrol variants. The electric variant debuted in Indonesia in February 2024, followed by New Zealand and other markets, with local production starting in December 2023. The 2025 model year battery electric version offers two trim levels, Urban and Ultimate, and received a battery downgrade to 58.9 kWh in the 2025.5 model update.
Fuel efficiency for the Omoda 5’s petrol models is competitive, with some variants achieving a combined fuel consumption of 9.1 liters per 100 kilometers and CO2 emissions of 207 g/km. Wheel designs include new 18-inch options, and certain markets have removed previously available red exterior highlights in favor of black detailing for a more understated look.
Features
The Chery O5, also known as the Omoda 5, integrates a blend of advanced technology and comfort-oriented features to enhance the driving experience. The interior boasts faux leather upholstery and ventilated seats, complemented by dual-zone automatic air-conditioning to ensure passenger comfort. For connectivity and entertainment, the vehicle includes two integrated 10.25-inch high-definition digital screens that control driving, climate, and multimedia functions, alongside an eight-speaker Sony audio system and a wireless mobile charger.
Safety remains a priority with the O5 equipped with six airbags, a Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) suite, and an innovative 540-degree camera system providing enhanced all-around visibility. The ADAS package includes lane departure warning and prevention, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, traffic sign recognition, blind spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert and braking, traffic jam assist, driver monitoring system, and intelligent headlamp control. The model has undergone extensive testing across Australia, covering nearly 30,000 km, to ensure reliability and performance in diverse driving conditions. An ANCAP safety rating is pending, expected to confirm the vehicle’s safety credentials further.
Variants and Pricing
The Chery Omoda 5 is offered in multiple variants catering to both petrol and electric powertrains. For petrol models, the vehicle is equipped with a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing around 156 hp and 230 Nm of torque, paired primarily with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) in markets such as Indonesia and Malaysia. However, recent updates have replaced the earlier nine-virtual ratio CVT with a six-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT), enhancing the driving dynamics. The petrol variants are available with optional all-wheel drive, which utilizes a multi-link rear suspension instead of the traditional torsion beam setup, resulting in a slight decrease in ground clearance from 190 mm to 180 mm in some markets.
The electric variant, marketed as the Chery Omoda E5 or Omoda C5 EV depending on the region, features a 150 kW (204 PS; 201 hp) electric motor powered by a 61 kWh battery pack. This version was first introduced at Auto Shanghai in April 2023 and went on sale in February 2024, with Indonesia being the initial market to receive it, followed by local production starting in December 2023. The electric model distinguishes itself with unique front-end styling and other design updates compared to the petrol version.
Trim levels have evolved over time, with the Style trim introduced in June 2024 and the entry-level Street trim added in November 2024. In April 2025, the Lux X and Elegance X trims replaced the previous Lux and Elegance versions, respectively, reflecting Chery’s ongoing efforts to refresh the lineup.
Pricing for the Omoda 5, particularly the high-spec Omoda 5 GT AWD variant, positions it competitively within the small to midsize SUV segment. For instance, the GT AWD model is priced at approximately $40,990, offering a premium look and feature set that belies its relatively affordable price point compared to rivals. The electric Omoda E5 competes directly with other popular electric SUVs such as the BYD Atto 3, MG ZS EV, Hyundai Kona Electric, and Kia Niro EV, targeting buyers seeking a stylish and capable electric crossover.
Market Availability and Launches
The Omoda 5, also known as the Chery O5 in some markets, has seen a broad international rollout since its initial launch. In many export markets, it is marketed under the Omoda marque, which is positioned as a more premium brand compared to Chery, with alternative names including the Chery FX and Fownix FX in Iran. The vehicle first debuted in China and has since expanded to multiple global regions.
In Australia, Chery re-entered the market in 2023 with the Omoda 5 after extensive testing covering nearly 30,000 km across various regions of the country. The model offers a range of trim levels and powertrain options, including a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine for initial variants, with more powerful versions such as the C5 GT featuring a 1.6-litre turbo engine and all-wheel drive introduced later in 2023.
The European launch has been strategically phased, beginning with Spain in March 2024. Chery signed a joint venture with Spanish company EV Motors to manufacture Omoda vehicles at a former Nissan plant in Barcelona, enhancing local production capabilities. Italy and other Western European countries including Germany, France, and the United Kingdom followed with planned launches throughout 2024, with hybrid and electric variants expected to be introduced shortly after the initial releases. The official European debut is anticipated in the fourth quarter of 2024, with orders for countries like Spain and Italy already in production.
In Southeast Asia, Malaysia is a key market where the Omoda 5 facelift, renamed as the Chery O5, was launched on September 10, 2025. Prior to the launch, Chery Malaysia opened registration of interest and held a launch roadshow at a prominent location in Kuala Lumpur, highlighting the vehicle’s bold new design and next-generation technology.
Globally, the Omoda 5 has been well received, particularly among younger buyers, contributing to its strong sales performance in markets such as Mexico, Turkey, Australia, Israel, and the Middle East. Since its initial launch, over 80,000 units have been sold, with expectations to exceed 200,000 units by the end of 2025. Chery’s globalization strategy and status as China’s leading passenger car exporter for over two decades have played a significant role in the model’s wide international reach and market penetration.
Target Market and Positioning
Chery’s OMODA 5 is strategically designed to appeal to younger consumers, who have increasingly become the primary group of car buyers in recent years. Recognizing the risk of market rejection without a youthful transformation, Chery has focused on creating products that resonate with the preferences and lifestyles of the new generation. This shift aligns with broader industry trends where European, Japanese, and Chinese automotive brands are competing to capture the attention of younger demographics.
In terms of brand positioning, the OMODA 5 is marketed under the Omoda marque in many export markets
Reception
The Chery Omoda 5 has been positively received for its ability to deliver a premium initial impression that surpasses expectations for its price segment. Reviewers have highlighted that the vehicle “punches above its weight” by providing features and design qualities typically associated with more expensive models, contributing to its strong appeal among consumers.
Additionally, the model has been recognized in award circuits such as the CHERY Red Ribbon Awards, where even smaller masterpieces like the Omoda 5 are acknowledged and given a platform to shine. The awards involve a scoring system that equally weighs public popularity and professional evaluations, reflecting both consumer engagement and expert opinion in the vehicle’s reception. Public popularity is measured through votes and participant engagement on Chery’s platform, and the final decision is at the discretion of Chery Auto Malaysia.
Comparison with Competitors
The Chery Omoda 5 stands out in a competitive segment that includes models such as the GWM Haval Jolion, Suzuki Swift, Audi A3, and BMW X3. Among these, the Omoda 5 is noted for its fuel efficiency challenges, as it is one of the vehicles that fall furthest from typical efficiency ratings. This places it in a similar category with competitors like the Haval Jolion and Suzuki Swift, which also struggle to meet optimal fuel consumption standards, unlike some of its more premium counterparts.
In terms of market recognition, the Omoda 5 benefits from Chery Auto Malaysia’s promotional activities, including an offline award system where the overall score is equally weighted between public popularity and professional evaluations. Public popularity is measured through votes and post engagement on the landing page, providing a direct gauge of consumer interest and brand interaction. Meanwhile, professional scores contribute equally to the total assessment, reflecting expert opinions on vehicle performance and features. The final decisions in this process rest solely with Chery Auto Malaysia, ensuring a definitive outcome without further correspondence.
This dual scoring approach highlights the brand’s focus on balancing consumer appeal with professional validation, an important factor in its competition against other established models in the market.
